Caleb Bennett competes during the Bareback riding event on the opening day of the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo at the Thomas & Mack Center in Las Vegas on Dec. 5, 2013. (Jason Bean/Las Vegas Review-Journal)
Wes Stevenson competes during the Bareback riding event on the opening day of the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo at the Thomas & Mack Center in Las Vegas on Dec. 5, 2013. (Jason Bean/Las Vegas Review-Journal)
Steven Peebles celebrates after wining the bareback riding event on the second night of the National Finals Rodeo at the Thomas & Mack Center in Las Vegas Friday, Dec. 6, 2013. (John Locher/Las Vegas Review-Journal)
J.R. Vezain of Cowley, Wyoming competes in the bareback riding event on the second night of the National Finals Rodeo at the Thomas & Mack Center in Las Vegas Friday, Dec. 6, 2013. (John Locher/Las Vegas Review-Journal)
Steven Dent of Mullen, Nebraska competes in the bareback riding event on the second night of the National Finals Rodeo at the Thomas & Mack Center in Las Vegas Friday, Dec. 6, 2013. (John Locher/Las Vegas Review-Journal)
Ty Breuer competes during the Bareback riding event on the opening day of the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo at the Thomas & Mack Center in Las Vegas on Dec. 5, 2013. (Jason Bean/Las Vegas Review-Journal)
Jessy Davis competes during the Bareback riding event on the opening day of the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo at the Thomas & Mack Center in Las Vegas on Dec. 5, 2013. (Jason Bean/Las Vegas Review-Journal)
Competitor Clint Cannon, left, gets help from pickup man Gary Rempel during bareback riding event on the second night of the National Finals Rodeo at the Thomas & Mack Center in Las Vegas Friday, Dec. 6, 2013. (John Locher/Las Vegas Review-Journal)
Will Lowe of Canyon, Texas celebrates after competing in the bareback riding event on the second night of the National Finals Rodeo at the Thomas & Mack Center in Las Vegas Friday, Dec. 6, 2013. (John Locher/Las Vegas Review-Journal)
Bobby Mote is seeking a fifth world title in bareback riding, but faces stiff competition from Kaycee Feild and Will Lowe.
A bareback rider begins his ride with feet placed above the break of the horse’s shoulder. If the cowboy’s feet are not in the correct position when the horse hits the ground on its first jump out of the chute, the cowboy has failed to “mark out” the horse properly, and his ride gets no score.
Throughout the eight-second ride, the cowboy must grasp the rigging with only one hand. He is judged on his control and spurring technique. He is disqualified if he touches his equipment, his body or the animal with his free hand.
The horse’s performance accounts for half the total score.
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